The inaugaral edition of Le Samyn promises an interesting race: a flat rated profile, that comes with some minor difficulties/climbs particularly in the first quarter of the race. Several rather short cobbles sectors in the finishing circuit, that has to be ridden four times. Some notable crosswinds as well (25-30kmh) and the question, whether we will see a selective race or not.
Premium cobblers like Blythe, Vanspeybrouck, Baugnies, Vanbilsen, Zepuntke or Bush will try to make it a tough race for only the best.. sprinters like Saber, Theuns, Nepomnyachsniy, Petit and Degenkolb will hope for a bunch sprint from a reduced peloton.
Five riders went clear right from the start of the race and they are allowed to stay clear for the break of the day:
Bissinger Howes Grellier Kaislavuo Krieger
The breakaway's gap would peak at eight minutes, but particularly three teams would then form a well working chase and cut down the advantage to just 2 minutes with now 52km to go:
Lierse SK made some work earlier on and now it's Carlsberg and Kulczcyk showing it's colours heavily..
27km before the finish - we're entering the final lap of the loop around Dour - the early break has been reeled in and it's still Carlsberg setting the pace with the peloton (141 riders) still big in numbers:
Østergaard at the front now and right behind him, it's already some big guns showing themselves:
They would wait for the penultimate cobbles sector to launch an attack, but now they go: 11.2km to go and we see the first big moves of the day!
Baugnies Vanspeybrouck Blythe Vanbilsen Maes with an acceleration..
Zepuntke Thomas Vanmarcke David trying to follow..
The higher pace makes for a major split in the peloton, where just 65 riders are left in the main group. A few notable names are dropped from this peloton now:
Holloway Petit Taillefour
9.5km remaining and three riders managed to go clear from the latest attacking group(s):
Blythe Baugnies Vanspeybrouck with a 13 seconds gap on the next group!
8km and this next group features 9 riders, who are fighting to close the 15 seconds gap to groub Blythe:
Thomas David Maes Vanmarcke Burghardt (who managed to join the attackers) Zepuntke Vanbilsen Fenn (also joining from the peloton) Albert (also joining from the peloton)
Those nine are now 34 seconds ahead of the peloton...
..where several riders keep the pace up in order to stay in contention for the Top-10 at least:
Arissol working for Bush and setting the pace.. Theuns right behind him.. Breen Ferreira Sinkeldam Bush Saber in the front rows as well..
Less than 5km to go and there's a change at the front with group Blythe not able to maintain their small advantage on the first chasing group! Eight riders in the new leading group, with a 24 seconds gap on a next group with three riders, who could not hang on:
Baugnies Blythe Vanspeybrouck Thomas David Maes Vanmarcke Burghardt
Zepuntke as part of this second group, that struggles to keep the pace of the leading group:
Zepuntke Albert Fenn
A next bigger group with 18 riders ain't too far behind..
..just 22 seconds, to be precisive, and fighting to at least catch up to group Zepuntke:
Saber Gaudin Theuns Bush Arissol Vanbilsen Ferreira Breen Nolf Grand Nepomnyachsniy Sinkeldam Thwaites Kurth Coronel Domene Van Keirsbulck Langeveld
Bissinger and Batmunkh jump away from the peloton, that is 30 seconds behind this group with Saber/Vanbilsen! Quite a strong effort from Bissinger, who's already been a part of the breakaway group..
The final cobbles sector 'Rue de Belle Vue' close to the finishing stretch in Dour! The leading group is still together and they are now 55 seconds ahead of the chasing group: that's looking good for those eight riders, who will most likely fight for the win today.
Blythe in the leading position and no one else is interested to change anything about this.. Vanspeybrouck, Baugnies and David on the next positions..
The chasing group has become bigger with now 23 riders in it. Group Zepuntke did not stay clear from group Saber/Vanbilsen and also Bissinger/Batmunkh managed to join the group in the meantime!
Saber at the very front of the group.. Thwaites, Zepuntke, Breen, Theuns and Albert on the further positions..
The leading group approaches the final kilometre and they are still shadowing each other.. Blythe at the front with Baugnies now right behind his wheel.. Vanspeybrouck at the front, too..
David behind Baugnies and Thomas in a good position as well.. Vanmarcke then.. Maes and Burghardt are already fighting to hang on though - they do not look like could join the mix for the victory!
And here goes the sprint with less than a kilometre to go:
Baugnies was the first to kick and that brings him an advantage over Blythe!
Thomas and David right behind Baugnies, Vanspeybrouck right behind Blythe.. Vanmarcke not at anyone's wheel and Maes/Burghardt indeed dead empty now!
Blythe definitely went too late and he can't match the speed of the new leading trio:
Thomas now ahead of Baugnies and David!
But wow, this will be close: Thomas not much faster than Baugnies and David.. Baugnies strikes back with a late acceleration..
..and it's enough for him to cross the line as first! Baugnies takes the first edition of Le Samyn and he continues to deliver attacks and great results this season. A tight sprint..
..but Thomas could not keep his speed until the very end, so:
David takes 2nd ahead of Thomas! A great result for David and also Thomas will be pleased with another podium result.
And while Baugnies celebrates his victory, Blythe crosses the line as 4th.. again no victory for him, he won't be happy at all. He definitely should have launched his sprint earlier.
A few seconds later, Vanspeybrouck beats Vanmarcke for a solid 5th place eventually..
Maes and Burghardt losing ground quickly, but they are still ahead of the chasing group..
..where Saber and Theuns open up a gap on Gaudin, Ferreira, Bush, Nepomnyachsnyi, Domene and Thwaites..
Burghardt tumbles in as a solid 7th ahead of Maes!
Saber easily outsprints Theuns, as they complete the Top-10 of the race!
Bush finishes 11th ahead of Ferreira and Domene..
Gaudin and Nepomnyachsniy round up the Top-15 ahead of a very strong Bissinger, Coronel, Thwaites, Grand and Breen!
Some great results for a few amateurs, as Batmunkh adds a good 23rd place in addition to Coronol's 17th place! Also Bissinger, as already said.. a disappointing day for Van Keirsbulck as 29th and Vanbilsen as 31st! Degenkolb 34th ahead of Van Asbroeck. The less strong cobbles sprinters could not deliver here.
